Islaja + Family Elan live at Cafe Oto

Family Elan

Islaja

15th September 2010

Barbican Centre produced A night of electronic and acoustic music influenced by the shamanic traditions of Northern Europe.

This event was at my favourite venue/cafe Cafe Oto in Dalston.

Nowadays, being in London with vast amount of choices of events, I don't normally go to gigs which cost over £10 (I'm broke too) but having missed A Hawk and a hacksaw show few weeks back at Oto, I had to catch what Chris Hladowski has been up to. I absolutely love his multi-instrumental talent and the music he gets his hands into.

Along with his other projects, Nalle, The One Ensemble and A Hawk and a Hacksaw, Family Elan seems to be becoming more transcendent as members change around. Today, Chris employs his sister Stephanie along with his friend Mark. 

Not sure if it was only me thinking FE music was more to do with Eastern Europe than Northern as curated for this event. Anyway, I was so happy to hear Les Mogol's "Toroslar" (1970's Turkish song) played, what a short and great tune. (I couldn't find mp3 to upload here but 30 second play can be done on the link here)

I personally enjoy instrumental pieces of them but Stephanie's voice certainly gives them a credit for some Irish songs they performed and the sentimental feel regardless of what background in music we all have. 

I love their new album (Alt.Vinyl) download here

Islaja is a Finnish woman on Fonal Records, who sings in Finnish and performs in keyboard samples with some make-shift sounds from anything from balloons to wooden pieces.

I am yet to visit Finland, but certainly her music and all other Fonal releases offer some insight into this semi-hidden corner of Northern Europe where they speak strange language with no strong connection in Latin. (apparently Korean language went up north via Hungary then Finland, they all have some connection in their languages)

Her voice for me is something else than simply put "Female singer", her voice is a sound itself along with her employed instruments. I greatly enjoyed the show and it made me want to find out this "Finnish" treasure awaiting to be in the cold Northern air of the tranquil some day.